ISTANBUL: Two suspects have been arrested in Istanbul on suspicion of “political and military espionage” for Israeli intelligence, Arab media reported on Thursday.
As per media reports, the suspects contacted Palestinian software engineer Omar A. on the pretext of doing business in Turkey. The probe was carried out by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office and was based on years-long enquiry. Local media reported that it found that Raed Gazzal was working for a firm linked to the Israeli Intelligence Service, and that Turkey-based Palestinian software engineer Omar A. had received a job offer from Gazzal. The suspects, Fouad Osama Fouad Hijaz and Nikola Radonjic, were identified as working for Israeli intelligence, and they came to Istanbul, Turkey to meet Omar A. regarding the job offer.
Turkish based newspaper Daily Sabah reported that Omar, born in 1991, graduated from the Islamic University of Gaza. Omar also developed a hacking program for Interior Ministry of Gaza.
Two Suspects Arrested in Istanbul on Suspicion of Spying for Israel
As per media reports, this program was able to hack into phones, and also attracted Israel’s attention. Omar reportedly received various “suspicious” job offers, including from a Norwegian software firm. He is considered to be one of the world’s best hacker and software developers.
Omar shifted to Istanbul from Cairo, Egypt in March 2020 for work. In Turkey, he came under close surveillance by Mossad, whose operatives have made effort to recruit him various times since April 2021 by sending different spies to Istanbul, Turkey. The Israeli operatives reportedly attempted to first take Omar to Europe and then smuggle him to Tel Aviv, Israel.
Turkish National Intelligence also intervened once it became clear that he would be smuggled abroad. Turkish officials warned Omar not to leave Turkey. He decided to visit to Malaysia in September 2022 for fifteen days, and Turkish intelligence officials again cautioned him over any suspicious job offer and put a tracking program on his phone, local media reported.
After he landed in Malaysia, it was reported that a team took him to a house located in a mountain where they questioned and tortured Omar. He was reportedly asked regarding the details of his hacking system and computer programs, and was questioned regarding whether he was working with other computer programmers in Istanbul, Turkey.
Following the intervention of Turkish intelligence, who also accessed his coordinates from the program installed on his phone, Omar was rescued by Malaysian special teams. Those who had tortured and questioned him were apprehended in Malaysia.
After the joint operation, Turkish national intelligence, with the help of counter-terrorism teams in Istanbul, arrested the other two Mossad operatives who had communicated Omar. As per media reports, Omar has been placed in a safe place under Turkish national intelligence control.
According to Arab News, in July, the Turkey had also uncovered a Tel Aviv-operated spy ring with 56 personnel, including an Arab Israeli, Turkish citizens and Syrians. The seven operatives arrested were reportedly tasked for working for Mossad by hacking phones, tracking car movements via GPS and hacking into networks.
In May, Turkish intelligence also arrested several Mossad operatives in Istanbul, Turkey for spying on Iranian targets for Israel.
The new development coincided with Israeli and Turkish diplomatic relations hitting a new low amid the war in Gaza.
